Warman City Council voted at its July 19 meeting to approve an application for infrastructure grant funding for two projects: outdoor arena upgrades in RJ Gidluck Park, and repairs to the Crystal Lake retaining wall and walking path.
Both projects are part of the city’s 10-year capital plan.
The outdoor arena upgrades are expected to cost $236,000, while the price tag for the retaining wall repair is pegged at $250,000.
The Canada Community Revitalization Fund is a two-year $500 million national infrastructure program announced earlier this year by the federal government. Projects funded under the program require municipalities to pay 25 per cent of the cost, with the federal government covering 75 per cent.
The city’s grant application is being filed prior to the July 23 deadline.
Warman City Council voted at its July 19 meeting to award the contract for sewage lagoon upgrades to Con Tech General Contractors LTD for a bid price of $11,514,655. The successful bidder submitted the lowest of three bids in a competitive process earlier this month.
While it was the lowest submission, it was still about $1 million more than what the city had anticipated the cost would be for this portion of the sewage lagoon upgrade project when it was initially estimated. The increase in cost was attributed to higher prices for labour and materials.
Meanwhile, the hot, dry weather has boosted water consumption across the city.
In a report to the Warman City Council committee of the whole meeting July 12, Public Works Manager Jason Wiebe said water demand has increased dramatically over the past several weeks.
“During the winter months, an average of 20 litres per second is distributed,” said Wiebe in his report to council. “The summer months can see an average of 47 litres per second. During the hottest days, the daily average can be as high as 68 litres per second.”